I'm a newbie... my first posting. So please forgive me if I do something wrong... lol

I've had Fibromyalgia for a long time and am still looking for ideas as to what might be helpful to aleviate pain without drugs. For me the best way to minimize pain is to distract myself. It seems that when my brain is busy with something aside from tuning into my pain, I feel better. If I sit for awhile and the pain gets worse, I get up and do something physical, even if it's just to walk around the room if the pain is at a high level. Playing a computer game is helpful for me as it moves my mind away from the pain, stretching... basically anything that will distract me....

I try to stay positive and live my life as best as I can under the circumstances and do have very bad days like the rest of us, but can't give into this, therefore, I'm always looking for ideas. If one thing does not work, perhaps something will....

Welcome! I also look for ways to distract me from pain... When I lay down it helps but I have 3 kids so I'm basically distracted all day! Sitting hurts but laying down I am okay, I am just like you, I can get up and do but can't sit. I go to the store everyday and walk around, I started coupling so that distract me... I have so far since July saved $4000 and only spent $500 I also try to be as physical as possible and it helps because I have noticed whether I take it easy or not I still hurt I will be back later if I think of anything else, I am going to put up Halloween decorations and go to the store... I am also medication free

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boomer2012 (10-08-2012)

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boomer2012 (10-08-2012)

Hi Brookie,
Thank you for taking time to answer me.... I can't imagine what you are going through in order to get through the day with three young children. I really admire you for being able to be so active in spite of the pain. I need to be more active... as you say the pain is there whether or not we move, but moving around does help! Thank you for your encouragement.... It is very much appreciated!

Distraction is my best medicine, too - although not my only med. My old stand by is my trusty bathtub. I'm short, so I can actually stretch out in it, resting my head on a plastic tub pillow. I do, what I call, Lamaze breathing like I did in labor with my kids. Long, slow breaths through my nose and out the same through my mouth. I will concentrate on the light over the tub (it is turned off) or sometimes shut my eyes. If I find a good book, I'll read in the tub when I feel the pain coming on, and try to distract myself before it gets to it's very worst. (I can, also, stretch my muscles easier, and less painfully, with them under the warm water.)
I guess, this is kinda my own version of "Calgon Take Me Away" for those of you old enough to remember that commercial.

I'd never thought of what I do in terms of distraction - but distract myself I do - if you focus on pain you get more......so I do:-
Exercise whether in pain or not - for me number 1 followed closely by
Stretching
Massage
Hot baths/hot tubs/showers/swimming
Meditation
Not sitting for too long
Hot water bottles
Vitamins
Manage what I do over a period of time - so we're in the process of moving house so am packing 5 boxes a day instead of 30 in one go!
Socialising with positive people
Focus on things I like
Holiday in the sun as much as I can!

I use hot showers to lessen the pain when it really hits... Hot water along with water pressure help... unfortunately everything has a temporary effect. I suppose it's finding what works best for each individual and never give up trying to find what works for us....

Thank you for sharing what helps you...

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FibroButBlessed (10-09-2012)

Hi,
I'm trying to figure out how to answer individual comments... the previous reply did not place itself under the e-mail I was replying to.... Hope this one works.... LOL

You certainly have everything covered, The Sweetlife... I've tried everything on your list, but I'm not consistent enough and tend to stop and start various things rather than follow through on a regular basis which creates a vicioius circle effect... very difficult to break. Such as exercise... stopping and starting is the worst thing I can do, as I create more pain for myself but I still allow life getting in a way of it... Thank you for sharing... it gives me encouragement to follow through....

And you're right - it's the consistency - I'm no angel but I ALWAYS exercise at least 4 times per week - not always easy as I work but if I don't I pay for it. I've been amazed with the Personal trainer I'm seeing now who is the first PT who I've found that understands fibro - I'm doing stuff I never would have thought possible and feel so much better - I can feel my muscles getting stronger
I'm a really positive person but it really struck a chord how many times I was saying I can't do that......or limiting myself by believing things weren't possible anymore - and they are it's finding someone to work with you and doing the stuff that helps. Sitting and focussing on pain will bring more pain.....
The vitamins I take are a good multivitamin, vitamin C and something called Muscleaze which is malice acid and magnesium combined.

Thank you for letting me know what vitamins you take... much appreciated!

I'm in the process of trying to get used to taking a magnesium/malic acid supplement but am having a lot of stomach problems at this time. I've been checked thoroughly and my stomach is fine, yet I'm still having problems... comes and goes... just like the weather... lol

Thank you for your encouragement... I started a daily exercise routine.... starting again... slowly, but daily, some treadmill, some bike and some e-fax machine.... I'll add weight bearing ones after getting used to the ones I'm doing now. You're very lucky to find a trainer who knows how to deal with Fibromyalgia... not too many people know what to do for someone in our situation.

Interesting... that's exactly how I feel.... I'm very positive yet I got used to the idea that "I can't do it" and with this attitude... that's what happens.... I can't do it, although I'm turning that this around by "Just do it".... like the Nike commercial... LOL

Packing is going a few boxes at a time.......so slowly but surely. You're starting the right way with the exercise a bit at a time - before I had my trainer I started by increasing what I was doing each week by a minute at a time - I got to the point when I would do a spin class for 30 mins (more if it was a warm day) with medium resistance/or swim or walk. I was doing no weights or anything like that at all - if I did I hurt. HOWEVER my PT does mini sets of weights with me i.e. a kettle bell swing, then an upright row rest and repeat then we go on to something different.
He's said in 2 months he'll be able to train me as if I were "normal" He has had me doing NO twisting work everything he does is in alignment forwards - he says it's the twisting movements that cause us the problems when we exercise (and then if our muscles are tight the rest of the time exercise or no exercise) - he's just starting small twists with me now. I've been going 5 weeks
He also says in his experience people with fibro often "believe" they can't do stuff - he didn't say this at the beginning only after I said that I thought I'd been limiting myself. He said many of his clients say "I can't do that it hurts too much" or when he's stretching us "that's enough" and actually whilst it's our body he's also an "expert" (he didn't say that) and I completely trust him so when he's stretching its really really hurt but in my head I'm thinking well this could cause a flair and I'm thinking him stretching me may stop me from flaring - the latter has happened.
I was asking him whether he thought I might run and he's said for sure 10km would be a good distance for you - WHAT THE F*@K was my response - not yet he said but next year!!!!! 5 years ago/5 weeks ago I would have laughed in his face, thought he was a nutter and never gone back. Now I'm looking forward to next year
Yes I still hurt every day but the exercise isn't making it any worse - it's making it a bit better - but inside I feel a million times better
So.......keep going and even if it hurts you HAVE to work through it but you MUST stretch well after and keep stretching. You CAN and WILL do it. If we don't use it we lose it.

__________________
Love and Light
thesweetlife

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WoodsWalker (10-10-2012)

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WoodsWalker (10-10-2012)

Nice pep talk sweelife. Timing to read that could not have been better for me. I start Yoga tomorrow and also a class in tai chi next week. My plan is to do either one or the other or maybe both once a week. You have given me and probably a few others a good lesson in fighting forward

I firmly believe there's a lot more we can do to help ourselves - it's very easy with fibro to become a "victim" - not something I'm known for being however I've caught myself a few times "being" one - and yes fibro is really c*@p but there's a whole big world to enjoy out there - but it's not going to come to us we need to get off our butts and go get it - despite the pain!